With one of my healing Water paintings, Water III. To lean more about my Water Series, click here.

I am thrilled to start up a new blog series theme: Artist Interviews. In this blog series, I will be interviewing inspirational artists and will sharing these insightful and inspirational messages in a variety of ways that I look forward to launching soon! For now, I am sharing the first interview of yours truly. In 2014, I was interviewed by Art 4 All People as part of an art exhibition focused on arts and healing.

Here is the interview, short and sweet!

How would you describe Transformative Art?

Transformative Art is art that reaches into the soul and acts as a mirror revealing the deep and rich inner beauty of the Self, as well as the shadow self. It has the power to shift consciousness and not only raise the vibration of an individual, but shift the collective consciousness.

What inspires your own Art and what does Art mean to you?

My own spiritual journey and quest for beauty, for what is true, and as a devotion to the Sacred is what informs and inspires my art practice.

In my experience, art serves as a visual response to the questions that one asks or that the collective is asking. For example, questions about the nature of reality, what it means to be a Spiritual being having a human experience, or about what is possible in the human experience.

As an Artist what is the significance of doing Transformative Art in these times, in this century in the now?

If an individual feels the call to create and share their art with the world, the significance of doing Transformative art now is ad infinitum. Art is a bridge between the mundane and the Sacred and has the capacity to bridge the gap of disparity between suffering and pure bliss. Artistic expression gives meaning and healing to the human condition. Art is the glue of the Universe and provides a safe space for the Soul to rest and take refuge. More than ever, art and artists serve as the foundation for the evolution of human consciousness.

As my friend Choury says, “the awakening process requires letting go and takes time but well worth it!”. My spiritual journey certainly has been a process of discovery and I have experienced several awakening experiences which have certainly taken time and letting go. What I do know is that it has has all been worth it and as I continue on this journey of awakening, I have learned that nourishing the Self plays a big role.

What pray tell is nourishment and what is nourishing to my Spirit, to me as the whole BEing and how can I provide this nourishment to myself, thus to others on a consistent basis? These key questions guide me on my quest of self-fulfillment and self-love. Many of my teachers in this life have expressed this vital element of nourishment in a variety of language and methods. For example, as a Raja yoga practice, I was taught that nourishment takes the form of self-remembering that I AM a peaceful soul, my true essence is Eternal, Immortal, Light. Cass Phelps of Awake Oneshares that nourishment comes in the form of discovering one’s gifts, receiving those gifts and then sharing them with our world. As a student and teacher of Reiki I have learned that nourishment is received as embracing the Reiki principles:

The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today, do not anger
Do not worry and be filled with gratitude
Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people.
Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart
and chant these words with your mouth
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind
The founder , Usui Mikao

And, so as I continue on in awakening and nourishing, I have opened my personal journey up in offering my gifts and inquiry through my art and teaching. In 2012 when I was making my career transition and launching my professional art career and new website, naturally the tag line was, “Art to Awaken Your Heart, Nourish Your Spirit“. This came through very organically for me as I was “brainstorming” this and creating my new material. Two years later, I am happy to offer classes and workshops with this theme and focus. It is a very rich topic for me, one which I explore daily through my art making and creative living as an artist and educator. I am pleased to announce my public workshop event on June 8 at the Temple of Light in Southern California where we will explore this topic together through painting and community.

On May 3 at the Temple of Light, I will be giving a brief talk called “Awaken Your Heart, Nourish Your Spirit“, at the monthly Holistic Health Fairin the Crystal Cave 1:50 – 2:20 pm. I also have a booth at the fair where I will be available to chat and am offering my fine art gift items and original paintings. I am also happy to offer a promotional price, even below the Early Bird Special for those register for this workshop event with me at this event! Looking forward to seeing you there!

Thank you for reading and I invite you to share your contributions via comments and connections and would love to hear from you via this blog, my face book page, or email lorien@lorieneck.com.

Cass Phelps is an amazing individual and his inspired body of work and offerings have been a phenomenal resource for me! His work is comprehensive, relevant and rich…I am eternally indebted to my teacher Cass.